Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/84

 the morning of the next day, they left there, and passed the night in another town, called Gilotepeque, which they found deserted, as it was within the enemy's country. The next day, they continued their march according to their instructions, and slept in a city, called Guatitlan, which I have before mentioned to Your Majesty, and which they also found deserted. The same day they passed through two other cities and towns, where they likewise found no people. At the hour of vespers, they entered Tacuba, which they also found deserted, and made their quarters in the houses of the chief, which are very beautiful and large. Although it was already late the warriors of Tascaltecal made an inspection of the entrance of two causeways leading to the city of Temixtitan and fought bravely for two or three hours with the people of the city until night separated them, when they returned safely to Tacuba.

The next morning, the two captains agreed, as I had commanded them, to cut off the aqueducts which supplied Temixtitan with fresh water. One of them went with twenty horsemen and some archers and musketeers to the source of the water, about a quarter of a league from there, and broke the pipes, which were of wood and mortar and stone, fighting valiantly with those of the city who defended the spring by land and water. At last he routed them and accomplished his purpose, cutting off the fresh water from the city — a very politic stratagem. The same day, the captains repaired certain dangerous passes, bridges, and aqueducts, in the neighbourhood of the lake, so that the horsemen might the more easily gallop from one part to another. This delayed them three or four days, during which they had many skirmishes with those of the city, wherein some Spaniards were wounded, many of the enemy killed, and many bridges and dikes